Comments on: 6 Best Books for Freelance Writers

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:33:20 +0000

Sandy, didn’t know Microsoft had written a style manual…it’s been ages since I’ve done tech writing… AP YES!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:45:39 +0000

Good list, Anne. Chicago and Elements are at the top of mine, too. I like Bird by Bird for general inspiration as a writer, along with John Gardner The Art of Fiction.

I would also add, for tech writers, the Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications (I know… sounds like an oxymoron to me, too:) It’s come in handy a few times when I’ve had to edit something with command language sprinkled throughout the text and couldn’t quickly decide how best to format it.

Of course, the AP stylebook is necessary for newspaper writers.

Another good one … How to Write a Damn Good Speech. :o)

By: lornadoone

lornadoone — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 18:48:04 +0000

I probably read Damn, Why Didn’t I Write That! at least once a year. I still haven’t written a non-fiction book, yet, but it inspires me a little more every time I read it.